Defense points out inconsistencies in testimony

HOLLAND -- Defense attorneys in the Janet Chandler murder trial revealed inconsistencies this morning with a former guard's testimony and early testimony from another witness at the party where police say Chandler died.

Former Wackenhut guard Harry Keith testified he witnessed another guard, described as white, have a confrontation with Arthur Paiva's girlfriend during the evening. But the girlfriend, Patty Ward, said she had the confrontation with guard James "Bubba" Nelson, who is black.

During Keith's testimony this morning in Ottawa County Circuit Court, the only person he could identify being in the room where Chandler was raped was Robert Lynch, a former guard already convicted of second-degree murder.

Keith admitted he changed his story to cold-case detectives several times during various interviews, including whether he saw Chandler at the party in 1979.

Keith said he didn't come forward to police earlier about his observations because he was frightened other guards might come after him.

"And basically I was in denial. I didn't want to believe what happened," he said.